Lifespan Development
Lifespan Development
Lifespan Development
Adolescence, also known as teenage years is a time of dramatic change. Adolescence is a period in one’s life in which major physiological, cognitive, and behavioral changes take place. This phase of life marks a developmental period that follows childhood and comes before adulthood. Adolescence is closely associated with puberty, which is also considered as a developmental milestone, particularly in the western countries. Puberty refers to the period of adolescence when a person becomes capable of reproduction (Carpenter, S. & Huffman, K., 2010).
In this paper, I will discuss the various factors that affect the physical, cognitive, social, moral, and personality development of adolescents. Adolescence is a time of rapid physical growth which is illustrated by the drastic growth spurt in the height, weight and skeletal muscles. The actual age may vary but generally occurs somewhere between the ages of 12 through 18. This is a critical stage where a child attempts to become independent, wants to establish their identity and there are noticeable changes in their moods and behavior.
During this time in the adolescent’s life, the physical development factors are genetics and nutrition. If the child has genetics that hinder on his or her physical development the child will only develop as his DNA allows. If the child does not have proper nutrition, he or she could be underweight or overweight. This is such a crucial stage for advancement and by eating non-nutritious meals can make a child so overweight that he or she will not be able to fully participate in physical activities. If the child is under-nourished, the instance is the same. Parent nurturing and focus can make a weak child strong. Just because a child is short or chubby does not mean he or she cannot develop physically. The more avenues of physical development that a child is exposed to, will help the child in his or her life. Children must be allowed to
Lifespan Development
Adolescence, also known as teenage years is a time of dramatic change. Adolescence is a period in one’s life in which major physiological, cognitive, and behavioral changes take place. This phase of life marks a developmental period that follows childhood and comes before adulthood. Adolescence is closely associated with puberty, which is also considered as a developmental milestone, particularly in the western countries. Puberty refers to the period of adolescence when a person becomes capable of reproduction (Carpenter, S. & Huffman, K., 2010).
In this paper, I will discuss the various factors that affect the physical, cognitive, social, moral, and personality development of adolescents. Adolescence is a time of rapid physical growth which is illustrated by the drastic growth spurt in the height, weight and skeletal muscles. The actual age may vary but generally occurs somewhere between the ages of 12 through 18. This is a critical stage where a child attempts to become independent, wants to establish their identity and there are noticeable changes in their moods and behavior.
During this time in the adolescent’s life, the physical development factors are genetics and nutrition. If the child has genetics that hinder on his or her physical development the child will only develop as his DNA allows. If the child does not have proper nutrition, he or she could be underweight or overweight. This is such a crucial stage for advancement and by eating non-nutritious meals can make a child so overweight that he or she will not be able to fully participate in physical activities. If the child is under-nourished, the instance is the same. Parent nurturing and focus can make a weak child strong. Just because a child is short or chubby does not mean he or she cannot develop physically. The more avenues of physical development that a child is exposed to, will help the child in his or her life. Children must be allowed to
Cited: About.com, 2010: Psychology-Background and Key Concepts of Piaget’s Theory. Retrieved June 6, 2010, from http://psychology.about.com/od/piagetstheory/a/keyconcepts.htm eHow.Com, 2010: About Moral Development in Adolescents. Retrieved June 6, 2010, from, http://www.ehow.com/about_5189183_moral-development-adolescents.html. infed, 2010: Lifespan Development and Lifelong Learning. Retrieved June 6, 2010 from, http://www.infed.org/biblio/lifecourse_development.htm. Wiley Plus: Carpenter, S. and Huffman, K. (2010). Visualizing Psychology (2nd edition). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Retrieved June 6, 2010 from, http://edugen.wiley.com/edugen/ student/main.uni.